//This counts the number or results - and if there wasn't any it gives them a little message explaining that $anymatches=mysql_num_rows($data); if ($anymatches == 0) { echo "Sorry, but we can not find an entry to match your query<br><br>"; }

//And we remind them what they searched for echo "<b>Searched For:</b> " .$find; }

I'm no expert on ajax myself, but i believe the way that you'd do it is to have a general query generate a big list in the background, and convert the output to xml. then use jquery or regular javascript to chop up and display the data based on form element manipulation.